Media Release

A Honokaʻa man is in police custody in connection with a theft from a tourist’s rental car.

Just after 1 p.m. Monday (March 10), a 58-year-old visitor from Henryville, Indiana, reported that as he was returning to his unlocked rental car parked near a shopping center in Honokaʻa, he saw a man leaning in through the passenger door, removing cash from the console and fleeing on foot.

About 15 minutes later, police located the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jovin Baba Batalona. He was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

At 2:05 p.m. Tuesday (March 11), Batalona was charged with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and third-degree theft. His bail was set at $11,000. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Wednesday (March 12).